Pivoted pull handle for easy opening scored ham can end



June 1, 1965 J. HENCHERT 3,186,532

PIVOTED PULL HANDLE FOR EASY OPENING SCORED HAM CAN END Fiied Oct. 30.1961 1 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q2 33 llllnw INVENTQR JOHN HENCHEJZT.

BY 1 wfiawdm ATTORNEY .5

PIVOTED PULL HANDLE FOR EASY OPENING SCQRED HAM cm END Filed Oct. 30.1961 J. HENCHERT June 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eta-.3

dorm HEMCHETZT ATTORNEYS June 1, 19.65v J. HENCHERT v PIVOTED PULLHANDLE FOR EASY OPENING SCORED HAM CAN END Filed Oct. 30. 196i" 4Sheets-Sheet :s

IFIGJO i INVENTOR JOHN HEucHEz-r BYm -n, Am

ATTORNEYS June 1, 1965 J. HENCHERT PIVOTED PULL HANDLE FOR EASY OPENINGSCORED HAM CAN END 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 50, 1961 R 2 T Wm WM C ME H M H o J ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,186,582 PWGTED PULL HANDLEFGR EASY OPENENG SCURED HAM QAN END John Henchert, Morton Grove, iiL,assignor to Continental Can Company, lino, New York, N.!., a corporationof New York Filed Get. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 148,592 24 Claims. (Cl.229-54) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvementsin the construction of metal cans, and more particularly to a novel canend having attached thereto a pivoted pull handle to facilitate theopening of a can body by tearing the can end along a previously formedscore line.

Although this invention may apply equally as well to all types of canswherein the ends are removable to facilitate the opening thereof, theinvention particularly relates to a ham can and will be so specificallydescribed, although it is not so limited.

At the present time, ham cans have the body portions thereof providedwith a tear strip which is removed by means of a key, after which theupper portion of the body and the entire can end may be removed from theremainder of the can to provide access into the interior of the can.This arrangement has several deficiencies. In the first place, it ismuch more costly than conventional type of can constructions. Secondly,there is always the problem of losing the key, although the key isinitially soldered to the can end. In addition, there is the problem ofseparation of the elongated tear strip which, when it occurs, makes itquite difficult to effect the opening of the can.

In accordance with this invention, it is the primary object to provide anovel can end, particularly adapted for ham cans, which can end isprovided with a peripheral score line defining a removable portion, andwhich removable portion has attached thereto a pull handle, which pullhandle is normally seated within the end of a can and is pivotallyattached to the removable portion for swinging movement to a positionprojecting beyond the end of the can wherein the pull handle may bereadily gripped and pulled upwardly with one hand while holding the hamcan down with the other hand to effect the tearing of the removableportion along the score line of the can end and thus resulting in aquick and eificient opening of the can end by removing a major portionof the can end in a simple operation.

Another object of this invention i to provide a novel can endparticularly adapted for ham cans, although it may be utilized inconjunction with other types of cans, the can end having a removableportion defined by a scoreline with the score line including a tearstarting portion, a pull handle attached to the removable portion of thecan end immediately adjacent the tear starting portion of the scoreline, and the pull handle being swingable from a position stored withinthe end of the can, to a projecting position wherein an upwardly andrearwardly pull may be exerted on the pull handle while the can is heldstationary to elfect the tearing of the removable portion'of the can endalong the score line is seated in a plug portion of the pull handle toeffect "ice an opening in the can end, and which plug is provided with agrip member secured thereto.

The difierent coetficients of expansion of plastic and metal presents aproblem when an opening in a metal member is sealed by means of aplastic member and the assembly is heated, as in the case ofsterilization and cooking of foods. This presents a problem with respectto pull handles which have plastic portions extending through the metalcan ends. When the can is being sterilized, due to the differential incoefficients of expansion between the plastic material and the can end,in many instances, the seal between the plug portion of the pull handleand the can end is at least temporarily broken.

In view of the foregoing, it is a further object of this the interlockof the pull handle to the removable portion of the can end.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel can endconstruction which includes a removable portion defined by a score line,and a pull handle attached to the can end for tearing the removableportion of a can end along the score line, the pull handle beingattached to the removable portion immediately adjacent the tear startingportion and the can end being of the countersunk type including anupstanding chuck wall wherein when the pull handle is pivoted from anormally stored position within the general confines of the can end toan extended position, the pull handle will ride up on the can end abovethe chuck wall so that the grip portion of the pull handle remainsexposed in a position where it can be readily grasped for exerting thenecessary pulling force on the pull handle.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel pivoted pullhandle for easy opening can ends, the pull handle including a plug whichis snapped through invention to provide a novel connection between aplastic pull handle and a metal can end wherein the can end is providedwith a peripheral flange extending around an opening formed in the canend, the peripheral flange being in the form of a resilient curl, andthe pull handle being formed of plastic and having a plug portionextending through the opening defined by the curl to lock theplugportion to the can end for relative pivoted movement, and the pullhandle having a grip portion which is provided with an annular recess inthe underside thereof surrounding the plug portion, the curled flangebeing resiliently engaged in the annular recess and being deformed underpressure during the securement of the plug portion to the can endwherein when the can end is heated, the diiferentials in coefiicient ofexpansion of the plastic material and the metal of the can end does notpermit a breaking of the seal between the plug portion and the can end,as would normally occur.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a ham can having an end formed in accordancewith this invention, the pull handle of the can end being shown indotted lines in its pivoted position ready to be pulled to efiect theremoval of a major portion of the can end.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the ham can witha portion thereof broken away in section and shows the specific positionof the pull handle subsequent to the exertion of a pulling force thereonto effect the opening of the ham can, the pull handle being shown inphantom lines in a partially opened position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takenalong the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

similar to FIGURE 3 and on the same scale as FIGURE 3, with the pullhandle in position to be engaged with the can end. I

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the ham can on an enlarged scale with only aportion thereof being illustrated, the view being taken along the line55 of FIGURE 4, and prior to the attachment of the pull handle thereto.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of the pull handle andplug, taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, and shows the pull handleand plug prior to the engagement thereof with the can end.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 7'7 of FIGURE 6, and 1 shows the cam surface on the pull handleto effect the camrning thereof up over the can end above theconventional chuck wall thereof. 7

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View takenthrough a modified form of pull handle, the pull handle being shown inits operative position by phantom lines. a

FIGURES is an enlarged'fragmentary exploded vertical sectional viewshowing the form of FIGURE ,8 a

prior to the engagement thereof with the can end.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar toFIGURE 3 and shows another form of pull handle. a

FIGURE 11-is a plan view of a hamcan similar to the ham can of FIGURE 1,only one end of the ham can being shown in order to illustrate thedetails of a moditied form of pull handle'carried thereby, the pullhandle being shown in an operative position by dotted lines.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts broken away andshown in section of the ham can of FIGURE 11, and shows the relationshipof the pull handle with respect to the can end.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectionalview'taken along the line 1313 of FIGURE 11 and shows the'specificdetails of construction of the can end and the pull handle carriedthereby. FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded sectional viewsomewhat similar to FIGURE 13, and shows the pull handle disengaged fromthe can end.

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view similar toFIGURE 13 andshows a modified form of plug construction.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, reference is first made toFIGURES l'through 7 of the drawings.

ventional can construction with the exceptionof one end thereof, the canend being generally referred to by the numeral 21. The can end 21; as isbest'shown in theharn can 26. The end panel 22 is provided .wit

' In these figures, a ham can, generally referredlto by the. numeral21?, is illustrated, The ham can 29 is of a cona peripheral score line26 which is disposed adjacent the seamv 24 and which defines a'removable portion 27 of the can end 21. fVJhGII'tIIG removableportion=21 is torn along the score linelfi, whiclrscore'line may bebroadly considereda weakening line, the. removable panel 2'7 maybecompletely removed from the can end, 21 and the ham disppsed within theham can dispensed" therefrom. V p V Reference is now made to FIGURE 5,wherein it is shown that the score line 26 :has a'tear, starting portion23 which is arcuate and of a small radius. The removable'portion 27defined by the scoreline is provided with'an opening 29therethroughimmediately adjacent,

the tear startin'g'portion 213 of the score line 26;. The

opening 29 is circular in outline and has a common center with the tearstarting portion 28. The opening 29 is defined by an upstanding tlange3% which is curled, as is best shown in FIGURE 4. It is to be understoodthat the curled peripheral flange 3i is'resilent so it may beslightlydefiected for a reason to be set'forth'hereinafter.

The can end 21 is further modified frornthe conventional can end by theprovision of a pull handle which is generally referred to by the numeral31 and which is best illustratedin FIGURE 1. The puli handle 31'includes a grip portion 32 and 'a depending plug portion 33. The pullhandle 33. is of a one-piece integral construction-and is preferablyformed of polypropylene, although other suitable plastics may beutilized in forming the pull handle 31. V

The grip portion 32, as is best shown in FIGURE 1, has an opening 34therethrough for receiving atleast two fingers of ones hand. in agenerally triangular part 35 towhich the plug portion 33 is integrallyconnected; As is best shown in FIGURE 6, the triangular portion 35'hasformed on the underside thereof a largediarneter boss 36 from whichdepends the plug portion 33. The underside of the boss 36 has an annularrecess 37 formed therein, the recess 37 being disposed immediatelyadjacentto and around theplug po1tion33m I The plug portion 33 is tionand includes. a tubular lower part 38 which has a taperedou-ter surface3% to facilitate the insertion thereof through the opening 29. The upperpart of the plug portion 33 is solid, as at (it). I

The pull handle 31 is attached to the canend 21 before it is seamed tothe can body 25. The pull handle 31 is secured to the can end 21 bypushing the plug portion 35 through the opening 29 and thenupsettingtheprojecting tubular portion 38 of the plug portion 33 in the manner bestshown inFIGURE 3. When the plug portion 33 is upset, as is shown inFIGURE3, a shoulder 41 is formed which abuts against the undersurface ofthe can end 212 surrounding'the opening 29.. 1 It is to be under? stoodthat the depth of the annular recess;37 isslightly less than the heightof the curled peripheral flange 39, with the result thatwhen the plugportion 335s upset, as shown in FIGURE 3, the curled fiangefid isresiliently deformed and the plug portion 33 slightlytensioned. In thismanner, a'very tight seal is obtained between the pull handle 31 and thecan end 21. 5

At this time,,it is pointed out that normally the contents of a cancontaining food is'heat processed after the can has been sealed. As aresult, the can end 21 and the pullhandle 31 are subjected toltheheat ofthe hea t processing treatment. If both the plasticpull'handle and themetal flange 3% contracted to,.their original dimensions -3-!l,.eventhough the direct seal bef een the pull handle Y 31 and the 'canend 21may bedestroyed, including the sealbetweenthe plug portion 33 andltheportion of the flange 1 opposing the plug portion 33;' the upper-portionof thefflange -36, whichhas been resiliently deformed in the upsettingof the plugrportion 33, continues-to bear against the underside of' thepull handles and forrn the necessar /seal; p y p r 7 V The useofpolypropylene as the plasticrnaterial has theadvantage in" that itwithstands the prog essing tem- "peraturesQ Further, itrmayf be readilyreshaped'or reformed to prpyide; the necessary; sealing relat'ionship.

The grip portion 31'tern1inates generally of a hollow construc- However,as pointed out above, other plastics may be utilized.

It is to be noted, as is closely illustrated in FIGURE 3, that normallythe pull handle 31 is disposed in overlying relation to the can end 21and is recessed therein. In this manner, the ham cans 20 may be readilystacked and shipped without any possible damage to the pull handle 31.On the other hand, when it is desired to utilize the pull handle 31, itis necessary that it not only be projected above the can end, but alsoas a continuation of the can end, generally as illustrated in FIGURE 2.To this end, it is necessary that the pull handle 31 be pivoted withrespect to the can end 21 by rotation about the axis of the plug portion33. When the pull handle 31 is rotated, it has to ride up over the seam24 in the manner best shown in FIGURE 2. In order to accomplish this,the underside of the triangular portion 33 is provided with cam portions42, the cross-section of which is best illustrated in FIGURE 7. Thesecam portions 42 engage the seam 24 and effect the bending of the gripportion 32 in the manner best illustrated in FIGURE 2. The grip portion32 is now generally upstanding and may readily be gripped and pulledrearwarclly while the ham can 2% is held down with the other hand so asto efifect the opening of the ham can by tearing away the removableportion 27 of the can end 21 along the score line 26. The pull'handle 31will be discarded with the removable portion 27 and by inverting the hamcan 29, the ham may be removed therefrom.

It is pointed out that the boss 36, for the most part, bears against theupper surface of the can end 21 and forms an adequate support for thepull handle 31. The boss 36 extends outwardly beyond the score line 26and prevents the accidental rupturing of the score line along the tearstarting portion 28 thereof.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 8 and 9 in particular, wherein there isillustrated a modified form of can end, generally referred to by thenumeral 43, having secured thereto a modified form of pull handle,generally referred to by the numeral 44. The can end 43 is identicalwith the can end 21 with the exception that it has an opening 45 thereindefined by a depending flange 46 which is slightly conical, as is bestshown in FIGURE 8. The can end 43 is provided with a score line 47 whichdefines a removable portion 48. The can end 43 also includes a chuckwall 49 and is secured to the can body 25 by means of the seam 24.

The pull handle 44 is identical to the pull handle 31 with the exceptionof the details of the plug portion 50 thereof. The pull handle 44 alsoincludes a grip portion, generally referred to by the numeral 51, whichcorresponds to the grip portion 32. The plug portion 50 extendsdownwardly from a boss 52, corresponding to the boss 36, and is of atubular construction. The lower part of the plug portion 50 is upwardlyand outwardly flared, as at 53, and terminates in an upwardly directedshoulder 54 at the lower part of an annular recess or groove 55.

When it is desired to assemble the pull handle 44 with the can end 43,which can be accomplished after the can end 43 has been seamed to thecan body 25, it is merely necessary to push the plug portion Sit downthrough the opening 45 with the result that the flange 46 will enterinto the annular recess 55 above the shoulder 54. It is to. beunderstood that the proportions of the plug portion 50 may be such thatwhen the plug portion 50 is disposed within the can end 43, as is shownin FIGURE 8, the intermediate part of the plug portion 50 will beslightly i'tensioned so as to firmly engage the can end 43 withcorresponding portions of the pull handle 51 and provide handle 31. Whenthe pull handle 44 is to be utilized, it

is rotated about the center of the plug portion 50 with the result thatit cams against the seam 24 and assumes 75 and beneath the shoulder 76.

6 the generally upright position, as is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE8. The pull handle 44 may then be grasped to tear the can end 43 alongthe score line 47 and to remove the removable portion 48 thereof in thesame manher as in the case of the can end 21.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, it will be seen that there is illustratedanother form of pull handle, generally referred to by the numeral 56.The pull handle 56 is associated with the can end 43 and includes a gripportion, generally referred to by the numeral 57, and a plug portion,generally referred to by the numeral 58. It is to be understood that thegripper portion 57 will be identical to the grip portion 32 of the pullhandle 31, and that the plug portion 58 will be identical to the plugportion 33 of the pull handle 31. However, the boss 59 on the undersideof the grip portion 57, which boss corresponds to the boss 36, will nothave an annular recess formed therein corresponding to the annularrecess 37. The flange 46 defining the opening 45 in the can end 43 isdownwardly directed, and therefore, no such recess is necessary. Afterthe plug portion 58 has been inserted through the opening 45, it is thenupset, as was the plug portion 33, to effect the necessary securcment ofthe pull handle 56 to the can end 43. It is to be understood that thecan end 43 will be opened in the same manner described with respect tothe can end 21 and the can end 43 when the pull handle 51 is attachedthereto.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 11 through 14, wherein there isillustrated another form of ham can, generally referred to by thenumeral 63'. The ham can 60 includes a can body 61 having a can end,generally referred to by the numeral 62, secured thereto by means of aconventional double seam d3.

The can end 62 includes a closure panel 64 defined by an upstandingchuck panel 65. A weakening line formed by a score line 66 extendsaround the periphery of the closure panel 64 adjacent the chuck wall 65and defines a removable portion 67. The removable portion 67 is providedwith an opening d8 defined by an upstanding peripheral flange as whichis slightly conical, as is best shown in FIGURE 14.

The can end 62 has associated therewith a pull handle, which isgenerally referred to by the numeral 79. The pull handle 70 includes agrip member, generally referred to by the numeral 71, and a plug,generally referred to by the numeral '72. The plug 72 is formed of asuitable plastic material, whereas the grip member 71 is preferablyformed of metal.

It is to be noted that the plug 72 includes a base 73 and an upstandingtubular portion 74. The tubular portion 74 has an annular groove 75formed therein immediately above the base 73 and includes a downwardlyfacing shoulder 76. The tubular portion 74 also includes a secondannular groove 77 which includes a downwardly facing shoulder 78. It isto be noted that the tubular portion '74 is upwardly tapered so that theshoulders '76 and '78 have different diameters.

The grip member 71 includes a hand grip portion 79 having a strap 8t?integrally connected thereto. The strap 80 has an opening 81 formedtherein with the opening 81 being defined by an upstanding peripheralflange 82 which is slightly conical, as is best shown in FIG- URE 14.,It is to be noted that the strap portion 8th is offset from theremainder of the grip member 71.

The pull handle 70 is assembled with the can end 6?. prior to theseaming of the can end 62 to the can body 61. This is accomplished byfirst pushing the plug 72 through the opening 68 with the flange 69engaging in the recess It is to be understood that the dimensions of theplug 72 are preferably such that the plug 72 will be slightly tensionedso as to provide a tight'gripping of the flange 69 by the plug 72 andthe sealing of the opening 65 through the can end d2.

After the plug 72 has been positioned, the strap 80 is snapped downoverthe upper end or" the plug 72 with a I? the tubular portion 2 4thereof passing through the opening 31, and the flange d2 of the strap8% being seated in the annular recess 77 beneath the shoulder 78. Inthis mannor, the grip member '71 is secured to the plug '72. It is to beunderstood that the grip member '71 is rotatable with respect to theplug .72.

The pull handle 70 is norm'allyrecessed within the end of the can 60 inthe manner best illustrated in FIG URE 12. When it is desired to utilizethe pull handle it? to remove the removable portion 67' of the can end62, the grip member 71 is pivoted about the plug '72 to the dotted lineposition of FIGURE '12. Then, the grip member 71 is pivoted upwardly and'rearwardly while holding onto the ham can 60 so as to tear the can endd2 along the score line 66 and efiect the removal of the removableportion 67. V 7

Reference is now made to FIGURE in particular, wherein the can end 62 isprovided with a slightly modified form of plug, generally referred to bythe numeral $3. The plug 33 is associated with the grip member 71 andonly the extreme upper portion of the plug 83 is changed from the plug72. The plug 83 includes a base 34 and an upstanding tubular portion 85;The lower portion of the tubular portion 85 is provided with an annulargroove or recess 36 above the base and has a downwardly facing shoulder37 which engages the upper edge of the fiangedQ to lock the plug 33 inthe. can end 62 and in sealed relation therewith to close the opening68.

The plug 33 differs from the plug '72 in that the upper portion thereofis not provided with'the annular groove '77 and the shoulder 78.Instead, the upper part of the tubular portion 85 is normally straighttapered and after it has been inserted through the opening 81 in thestrap 8t it is upset as at 8S,'to secure the strap 3%} and theremainder'of the grip member 71 to the plug 33.

When the plug 33 is utilized in lieu of the plugs 72, it

through and said pull handle having a plug'portion passing through saidcan end opening in sealed relation to said can end and forming theconnection between said pull handle and said can end'removable portion,at least said plug portion being. formed ota plastic material, and saidpull handle being rotatable from a normal stored position overlying saidcan end to an operative position projecting from said can end.

3. The can end assembly of claim 2 wherein said can end is of therecessed type including an upstanding chuck wall, and said pull handleis normally stored completely below the upper-edge of said chuck wall.

i 4-. A can end assembly comprising a can end having a peripheralweakening line adjacent the peripheral edge will be apparent that thepull handle formed of the grip 0 member 81 and the plug 83, this pullhandle being generally referred to by the numeral 89, is recessed withinthe end of the ham can. It is also to be understood that it may bereadily pivoted to an operative position in the same manner describedwith respect to the pull handle. "7%).

Although this invention has been particularly described and illustratedwith respect to a ham can, it is to be understood that the invention maybe utilized in conjunction with cans intended for other products, and isnot limited to a can whichcontains a food product, although this is Vthe preferential use of the can.

Althoughseveral embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, itis to be understood that other variations may be made in the can end andpull handle construction disclosed herein without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: 7 V V V V 1. A can end assembly comprising a can end having aperipheral weakening line adjacent the peripheral edge.

thereof defining a removable portion which constitutes a rnajor part ofthe can end, said weakening line having a tear starting portion, 1a pullhandle securedtosaid re-' movable portion immediately adjacent said:tea'r starting portion, said removable portion having anopeningtherethroughand said pull handle having a resilient plug pora peripheralweakening line adjacent the'peripheraledge a major part ofthe can end,said weakening line having tion passing through said can end opening insealed r'elationjto said can. end and forming the connection betweensaid pull handle and said can end removable portion.

)2. A can tend assembly comprising a can end having a tear startingportion, a pullhandle secured toisaid removableportion immediatelyadjacent. said tear starting portion, said removableportion having anopening there thereof defining a removable portion which constitutes amaior part of the can end, said weakening line having a tear startingportion, a pull handle secured to said removable portion immediatelyadjacent said tear starting portion, said removable portionhaving anopening therethrough and said pull handle having a plug portion passingthrough said can end opening in sealed relation to said can end andforming the connection between said pull handle and said can endremovable portion, said can end having a peripheral flange surroundingsaid opening and forming a bearing and sealing surfacefor said plugportion. 7

5. A can end assembly comprising a can end having a peripheralweakening'line adjacent the peripheral edge thereof defining a removableportion which constitutes a major part of the can end, said weakeningline having a tear starting portion, a pull handle secured to' saidremovable portion immediately adjacent said tear starting portion, saidremovable portion having an opening therethrough and said pull handlehaving a plug portion passing through said canend openingin sealedrelation'to said can end and forming the connection between, said pullhandle and said can end removable portion,'said can end having aperipheral flange surrounding said opening and forming a bearing andsealing surface for said plug portion, and said plug portion having apart thereof interlocked behind said peripheral flange.

6. A can endassemblycomprisinga can end having a' peripheral weakeningline adjacent the peripheral edge ing through said canend opening insealed relation to said can end and. forming the connection between,said 7 pull handle and said can end removable portion, said canendhavinga peripheral flange surrounding said opening and forming abearing and sealing surface for'said plug portion, said plug portionbeing of the snap-in type and having a groove receiving said peripheralflangev to thus interlock said peripheral flange and said plug portionand secure said plug portion in said can end.

7. The canend assembly ofclaim 2 wherein saidcan end is of the recessedt ype including anupstanding chuck :wall, and said pull'handleisfnormally'sto'red completely below theupperedge of said chuck wall,said can end opening being disposedadjacent said' chuck wall with saidpull handle riding upon said can end above said chuck wall-whensaid pullhandle is pivoted to the operativeposilieu thereof and assuming anupstanding positi0n. Q I

8; The can end assembly of ;claim 7 wherein said pull 'handle has camsurfaces onthe underside thereof forenvgaging said can end above saidchuck .w'all and to'facilitate V V i 'thereof defining a removableportionwhich constitutes t.

the pivoting of said pull handle.

9. Thie' can end assembly of claim' Z'wherein said can .end'is of therecessed typeincluding an upstandingchuck a wall, and said pullhandle-is"normallystored completely below theiupper edge of said chuckwallgsaid pull handle a Q includinr a'gripiportion-;connected tosaidiplug portion above said removable portion wherein when said pullhandle is rotated to the operative position thereof said grip portionwill clear said chuck wall.

10. A can end assembly comprising a can end having a peripheralweakening line adjacent the peripheral edge thereof defining a removableportion which constitutes a major part of the can end, said weakeningline having a tear starting portion, a pull handle secured to saidremovable portion immediately adjacent said tear starting portion, saidremovable portion having an opening therethrough and said pull handlehaving a plug portion passing through said can end opening in sealedrelation to said can end and forming the connection between said pullhandle and said can end removable portion, said can end having a curledperipheral flange surrounding said opening and forming a bearing andsealing surface for said plug portion.

11. A can end assembly comprising a can end having a peripheralweakening line adjacent the peripheral edge thereof defining a removableportion which constitutes a major part of the can end, said weakeningline having a tear starting portion, said removable portion having anopening therethrough immediately adjacent said tear starting portion, anupstanding curled peripheral flange surrounding said opening, and aone-piece plastic pull handle, said pull handle including a grip portionand an integral depending plug portion, a recess in the underside ofsaid grip portion surrounding said plug portion and receiving saidcurled peripheral flange with said plug portion being disposed in saidopening, and said plug portion having a shoulder abutting the undersideof said can end surrounding said opening and securing said pull handleto said can end in sealed relation.

12. The can end assembly of claim 11 wherein said curled peripheralflange is resilient and is deflected by the engagement thereof with saidpull handle to provide for a continuous seal notwithstanding thedifferences in the coefficients of expansion of the can end and the pullhandle.

13. The can end assembly of claim 11 wherein said can end is of therecessed type including an upstanding chuck wall, and said pull handleis normally stored completely below the upper edge of said chuck wall,said can end opening being disposed adjacent said chuck wall with saidpull handle riding up on said can end above said chuck wall when saidpull handle is pivoted to the operative position thereof and assuming anupstanding position.

14. The can end assembly of claim 13 wherein said pull handle has camsurfaces on the underside thereof for engaging said can end above saidchuck wall and to facilitate the pivoting of said pull handle.

15. A can end assembly comprising a can end having a peripheralweakening line adjacent the peripheral edge thereof defining a removableportion which constitutes a major part of the can end, said weakeningline having a tear starting portion, said removable portion having anopening therethrough immediately adjacent said tear starting portion, adepending peripheral flange surrounding said opening, and a one-pieceplastic pull handle, said pull handle including a grip portion and anintegral depending plug portion, said plug portion extending throughsaid opening having an annular peripheral recess receiving said flangewith said flange locking said plug portion in said opening in sealedrelation to said can end.

16. The can end assembly of claim 15 wherein said 1% can end is of therecessed type including an upstanding chuck wall, and said pull handleis normally stored completely below the upper edge of said chuck wall,said can end opening being disposed adjacent said chuck wall with saidpull handle riding up on said can end above said chuck wall when saidpull handle is pivoted to the operative position thereof and assuming anupstanding position.

17. The can end assembly of claim 15 wherein said plug portion is of thesnap-in type and has a tapered lower portion for facilitating theinsertion of said plug portion into the opening.

18. The can end assembly of claim 15 wherein said plug portion ha anupset lower end defining a shoulder underlying said flange and formingthe lower wall of said annular recess.

19. A can end assembly comprising a can end having a peripheralweakening line adjacent the peripheral edge thereof defining a removableportion which constitutes major part of the can end, said weakening linehaving a tear starting portion, said removable portion having an openingtherethrough immediately adjacent said tear starting portion, anupstanding peripheral flange surrounding said opening, and a two-piecepull handle, said pull handle including a plug and a separate gripmember carried by said plug for rotation about the axis of said plug,said plug projecting upwardly through said can end and having an annularperipheral recess receiving said flange with said flange locking saidplug in said opening in sealed relation to said can end.

20. The can end assembly of claim 19 wherein said plug is formed of ladeformable plastic material and said grip member is formed of metal.

21. The can end assembly of claim 19 wherein said grip member has a plugreceiving opening defined by an upstanding peripheral flange, and saidplug passes through said grip member and has a second annular peripheralrecess receiving said grip member flange.

22. The can end assembly or" claim 21 wherein said plug is snapped intosaid grip member and has a tapered upper portion facilitating themovement thereof through said grip member.

23. The can end assembly of claim 21 wherein said plug has an upsetupper end retaining said grip member thereon.

24-. The can end assembly of claim 1 wherein said can end isparticularly shaped for use as an end of a ham can.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,788 1/ 31Sundquist 22053 2,029,328 2/36 Ljungstrom 220-52 2,029,329 2/36Ljungstrom et al. 220-48 2,085,200 6/37 Ljungstrom et al 220-482,112,231 3/38 Speidel 22054 2,870,935 1/59 Houghtelling 220-532,901,144 8/59 Haustrup 220-9l 2,946,478 7/60 Clair et al 22054 FOREIGNPATENTS 559,369 10/57 Belgium. 805,214 12/58 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

1. A CAN END ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CAN END HAVING A PERIPHERAL WEAKENINGLINE ADJACENT THE PERIPHERAL EDGE THEREOF DEFINING A REMOVABLE PORTIONWHICH CONSTITUTES A MAJOR PART OF THE CAN END, SAID WEAKENING LINEHAVING A TEAR STARTING PORTION, A PULL HANDLE SECURED TO SAID REMOVABLEPORTION IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID TEAR STARTING PORTION, SAID REMOVABLEPORTION HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH AND SAID PULL HANDLE HAVING ARESILIENT PLUG PORTION PASSING THROUGH SAID CAN END OPENING IN SEALEDRELATION OF SAID CAN END AND FORMING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID PULLHANDLE AND SAID CAN END REMOVABLE PORTION.